Colchester & Tendring AC had representatives at several big events last weekend, including the English Schools Cross Country Championships and the Essex Road Relays.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sisters Kayleigh and Kiera Atkinson, who featured highly at the Harwich Parkrun. Picture: JOHN HYLANDSisters Kayleigh and Kiera Atkinson, who featured highly at the Harwich Parkrun. Picture: JOHN HYLAND (Image: Archant)

Joe Patterson ran in an Essex Schools vest at Norwich, in the English Schools Cross Country event.

Patterson enjoyed an excellent run in the senior boys’ 7K race, finishing in a very respectable 68th place out a field of 334 runners.

Essex athletes won the overall Cup, a superb achievement by all.

Will Page, running for Suffolk at the same meeting and in the same age group, also gave a good account of himself to finish in a worthy 119th position.

Mary Ann Deasy, although feeling below par, stuck to her task in the senior girls’ race with a creditable run.

Elsewhere, at the Essex Road Relays, held over a 3x5K distance at Harwich sea-front, Colchester & Tendring AC’s female veteran team were delighted to win bronze medals.

The trio of Ellie Cumner (21mins 05secs), Jane Atkinson (21:11) and Sian Gifford (22:26) secured the third place. This should be a good confidence-booster for the new road season.

Meanwhile, the Harwich Parkrun saw two of the CATS’ very talented youngsters produce outstanding times.

Ten-year-old Kiera Jayne Atkinson finished second in 19mins 07secs, a personal best effort from a field of 93 runners of all ages.

Her nine-year-old sister, Kayleigh Ann Atkinson, was also in brilliant form to finish sixth in 20:12, which was also a PB.

Not to be outdone, Dad Kieron Atkinson was ninth in a PB of 20:42.

At the Colchester Parkrun, good efforts came from Ben Miller, who was third in 17:48, Elliot Black, who recorded a PB of 22:07, Georgina Sturgeon (23:45) and Elsie Baggot (25:02).

n Colin Ridley, of Colchester Harriers, clinched a silver medal at the National Veterans Cross Country Championships, held in Liverpool last weekend.

Ridley was second in the over-55 age group, after a terrific sprint finish. In fact, he was very unlucky not to be crowned champion.

Also last week, Ridley claimed the Masters over-55 veteran indoor 3,000m silver medal, by clocking 9mins 43secs at Birmingham.